Other

Hewlett-packard Company

Household Technology Group LLC

Houseware Technology Group LLC

Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Edward Zhihua Cai

David N Olsen

Isaac Farr

Ravi Prasad

Ray Allen Walker

Shane Shivji

Jenny Li

A vacuum sealing device comprises a lid having a rigid rim with a lower opening for receiving a dish, an impermeable elastic membrane peripherally affixed to the rigid rim for sealing the dish, and a valve-less air evacuator formed between the elastic membrane and the dish rim. The valve-less evacuator allows air to flow out of the dish when the lid is being pressed and becomes closed when the lid is released to cause said lid to rebound to form a vacuum in the dish. The rigid rim prevents lid deformation when the lid is pressed, thus enabling the vacuum formation. To facilitate lid removal, the device has a valve-less vacuum releaser comprising a finger-receiving chamber and a section of the elastic membrane located above the chamber and connected to the rigid rim for releasing the vacuum in the dish. To prevent vacuum loss during storage in freezer or fridge, the elastic membrane is sufficiently thinned prior to being affixed to the rigid rim. In use, one places the lid on a dish, forces air out of the dish via the air evacuator between a section of the elastic membrane and the dish rim by pressing the lid, and releases the lid to cause the air evacuator to close and vacuum to form in the dish. To restore the device's capability to generate and maintain vacuum after numerous uses, the lid is exposed to a hot fluid having a temperature higher than 45&#xb0; C. for a period of time.

Vacuum generating device for sealing perishable products and method of use

Apparatus for generating and delivering a pressurized hot water pulse to a brewing station comprises a water inlet adapted to close during delivering the pulse, an outlet for the pulse, a generator comprising a water heating chamber for receiving a amount of water via the inlet and for heating the water therein to produce sufficiently hot water for the brewing station, a pressurization chamber for vaporizing water to generate pressurized steam to deliver the hot water as a pressurized hot water pulse to the brewing station through the outlet, and a heating system for the heating and the vaporization of the water in said pulse generator. The chamber has a first end adapted to receive pressurized steam and a second end close to the hot water intake port of the inlet. The pressurization chamber is adapted to provide pressurized steam to the first end of the heating chamber in such a manner that substantially no interaction occurs between the pressurized steam and the hot water between the first and second ends of the heating chamber, thereby substantially preventing the overheating of the hot water by the pressurized steam. The pulse generator is adapted to cause water to flow into the pressurization chamber from the water heating chamber or inlet for the generation of the pressurized steam.

Fluid delivery system for generating pressurized hot water pulses

A thin sheet of sealed coffee grounds comprises a plurality of filter packs, a rigid substrate sheet, a flexible barrier sheet sealed to the substrate sheet via a plurality of ring-shaped seals to form a plurality of chambers to contain the plurality of filter packs, a plurality of cut lines outside the plurality of seals for isolating the chambers from one another, and a plurality of grippable tabs for dispensing the filter packs from the thin sheet. The grippable tabs are adapted to allow a user to dispense a filter pack at a time from the thin sheet by simply pulling a grippable tab to open a chamber and release the filter pack therein. The substrate sheet has a smooth top surface in one aspect of the invention and a plurality of cylindrical cavities sealed by the flexible barrier sheet via the ring-shaped seals in another aspect of the invention. In a further aspect of the invention the plurality of filter packs in the thin sheet is replaced by a plurality of portions of loose coffee grounds.

Combined coffee package and dispenser

A hygiene device for a coffee or espresso machine comprises an upper surface for receiving hot water from the machine, a lower surface adapted to be contaminated by flavor-containing materials in a basket while preventing the flavor-containing materials from contaminating the machine, a sufficiently small opening for allowing hot water to pass through to the flavor-containing materials and preventing the flavor-containing materials from reaching the upper surface, and a handle for allowing a user to move the hygiene device to allow the flavor-containing materials contaminated on the lower surface to be washed away. The hygiene device may comprise a seal member for forming an airtight seal with the rim or side wall of basket to enable a vacuum building-up therein to prevent dripping when disposing the wet flavor-containing materials. The hygiene device may also comprise a connector such as a hinge for connecting the hygiene device to basket to allow a user to move the hygiene device to open and close the basket.

Brew station for coffee drinks

Device and method for brewing coffee comprises a body connected to a container for allowing the formation of a dispersion of flavor-containing materials and liquid and the extraction of the flavor-containing materials to produce a liquid extraction, a porous filter connected to the body and having a first surface for contacting the dispersion, filtration openings for allowing the liquid extraction in the dispersion to pass through but blocking the flavor-containing materials and a second surface for receiving the liquid extraction, and a flow facilitator having a selective opening adapted to allow air to pass through but restrict the flavor-containing materials from passing through. The body and porous filter are adapted to allow the container to be tilted to generate a liquid head to act on the first surface of porous filter to drive the liquid extraction through the porous filter to produce a beverage. A coffee fine removing means may be incorporated into the device to render coffee beverage free of coffee fines to improving coffee smoothness. The device may further comprise an extraction chamber and an exchange chamber for producing a supply of beverage in the container for drinking or dispensing without any need to tilt the container to generate the liquid head.

Device and method for brewing coffee and espresso beverages

A fluid supply is provided, which includes a body defining a storage space configured to contain a fluid, a first electrode and a second electrode contained within the storage space and configured to be in direct contact with the fluid, wherein the first electrode and second electrode are configured to be connected to external power supply circuitry for applying an alternating signal across the first and second electrodes, and a first electrical contact in electrical communication with the first electrode and a second electrical contact in electrical communication with the second electrode. The first electrical contact and second electrical contact are to be connected to the external power supply circuitry and to detector circuitry for determining a measured impedance value of the fluid.

Fluid detection system

Device for preparing a coffee drink having a visually appealing crema layer comprises a container for receiving flavor-containing materials and allowing it to interact with pressurized hot water to produce a coffee drink, an orifice for converting the coffee drink into a high speed drink jet, and a cyclone channel located below the orifice and adapted to interact with the jet to generate a cyclone zone therein during preparing the coffee drink. The cyclone zone stays alive by constantly drawing air in from atmosphere to emulsify with the coffee drink within the cyclone zone and constantly driving the resulting emulsion out of the cyclone zone as a result of the momentum of the jet. The emulsion separates into a coffee drink layer and a crema layer on top of the coffee drink upon being received in a cup.

Device for making coffee drink having a crema layer

A pod for making coffee, espresso, hot chocolate, mocha, latte or the like comprises a first sheet of filtering paper having an open top end, a bottom and a substantially vertical side wall adapted to form a seal with the vertical side wall of a pod holder, a second sheet adapted to fit into the open top end of the first sheet to form a closed chamber between the sheets, a supply of flavor-containing materials in the closed chamber, and a sealing seam between the side walls of the first sheet and the second sheet. The sealing seam is adapted to prevent formation of bypass channels between the pod and the side wall of a pod holder, thereby causing all or nearly all the hot water introduced to the pod holder to pass through the flavor-containing materials between the first and second sheets. Method for using the pod to make coffee, espresso, hot chocolate, mocha, latte or the like is provided.

Pod and method for making fluid comestible

A cartridge for use with a mounting head for the preparation of fluid comestibles comprising a cartridge inlet, a chamber connected to said cartridge inlet for containing suitable flavor-containing or particle materials, a cartridge outlet connected to said chamber and a handle enabling a user to hold the handle to attach and secure the cartridge inlet to the mounting head to allow the liquid to be delivered under pressure through the flavor-containing or particle materials in the chamber, through the cartridge outlet and directly into a receptacle such as a cup or carafe for consumption, thereby dramatically simplifying the preparation of the fluid comestibles and relieving the user from the tedious cleaning work. The handle comprising at least part of the wall of the chamber, which is sufficiently rigid. The cartridge inlet has a cross-section area significantly smaller than that for the chamber to reduce the force exerted by the liquid pressure to the cartridge inlet, thereby lowering the risk of breaking the seal between the cartridge inlet and mounting head. The cartridge outlet may have a restrictive opening such as an orifice for forming a high-speed fluid jet or stream and an arrangement to allow it to interact with air to generate a foamy head for the fluid comestible. A freshness promoter can be used to prolong the freshness of the flavor-containing materials.

Beverage making cartridge

Device and method for making beverage from flavor-containing materials comprises a body connected to a container for allowing the formation of a dispersion of flavor-containing materials in liquid and the extraction of the flavor-containing materials to produce a beverage, a porous filter connected to the body and having a first surface for contacting the dispersion, filtration openings for allowing the beverage in the dispersion to pass through but blocking the flavor-containing materials and a second surface in communication with a beverage outlet from which the beverage may be poured or drunk, and a cling-on chamber on the body adapted to form a vacuum therein to suck to the interior surface of the container, thereby allowing the container to be tilted to generate a liquid head to drive the beverage out of the container through the filtration openings. The device may further include a blending/mixing mechanism to stir or break the flavor-containing materials and liquid for generating a visually appealing crema layer on the dispersion and/or facilitating the extraction of the flavor-containing materials by the liquid, and a flow facilitator having a selective opening for increasing the beverage flow through the filtration openings and preventing the flavor-containing materials in the dispersion from getting out of the container in the event that the dispersion covers the selective opening under a liquid head or force.

Device and method for making coffee and espresso drinks

Device for cooking food directly in a dish includes a generator for producing hot gaseous fluid, an applicator having a body for covering the dish, an inlet connected to generator for receiving hot gaseous fluid, a seal plate for sealing to the rim of dish to create a closed cooking chamber and a distributor for distributing hot gaseous fluid to food, and an arrangement for allowing the applicator to move upwards and downwards from and to the rim of dish during cooking process to modulate the cooking pressure for the food. Method of use comprises forming a closed cooking chamber between the applicator and dish, increasing the pressure therein to a predetermined pressure, maintaining the predetermined pressure for a period of time and superimposing numerous pressure pulses upon the predetermined pressure for more effective cooking.

Device and method for cooking and/or heating comestibles with hot gaseous fluid

A printer has a print engine with an ink supply chamber connected to the print engine. The supply chamber has an exit aperture to which a suction device is connected. A gas permeable film associated with the aperture separates the chamber from the suction device. The suction device may be a resilient spring member that occasionally is composed during winter carriage reciprocation to maintain suction, or may be a vacuum pump. A porous may support the film.

Facility and method for removing gas bubbles from an ink jet printer

An applicator for applying fluid or paste product to hair or hair-like objects on a surface comprises a handle, an application member for holding an amount of product and applying the product to the objects, and a shield for covering at least part of the application member to prevent the surface from contacting the application member during the use of the applicator, thereby preventing the surface from being contaminated by the product. The shield has at least one opening configured to allow the hair or hair-like objects to reach the product on the application member, thereby causing the objects to be coated by the product. A product loading system is used to load an amount of product selectively to the application member while leaving the shield substantially free of the product. The loading system has a dosage indicator for showing the user how much product is used for a particular application and a level indicator for showing the user how much product is left. Methods for applying product to hair or hair-like objects using an applicator is also provided.

Applicator and method for applying fluid or paste product to targeted surface

Apparatus includes a water reservoir, a container for containing flavor-containing materials and a fluid delivery system for generating a plurality of pressure pulses, each including a water pulse and a steam pulse, and for delivering the pressure pulses through the flavor-containing materials. This extracts the useful compounds out of the flavor-containing materials under the pressure of the pressure pulses. The fluid delivery system includes a chamber, a heater in heat conducting relation with the chamber, a valve disposed between the reservoir and the chamber which opens to permit water to flow from the reservoir to the chamber when pressure in the chamber drops below a predetermined pressure. Method for making flavor-containing liquid with a plurality of pressure pulses includes generating and delivering a first pressure pulse in the form of a pressurized hot water pulse and a pulse of pressurized steam to and through the flavor-containing materials in a container. The flavor-containing materials is extracted by the pulse of pressurized hot water under the pressure of the first pressure pulse and are dried or potentially re-roasted by the pulse of pressurized hot steam. The next step is to generate and deliver a second similar pressure pulse, again, to and through the flavor-containing materials. The steps of generating and delivering pressure pulses to and through the flavor-containing materials can be repeated until a desired amount of flavor-containing liquid has been prepared.

Fluid delivery system for generating pressure pulses to make beverages

A cooktop hygiene device removably mountable to a cooktop for collecting food sputterings or spillings and preventing such sputterings or spillings from contaminating the cooktop comprises a plate-like structure, which can be flexible or rigid, having an upper surface adapted to receive the spillings or sputterings and a lower surface adapted to interface with the cooktop surface, and a plurality of openings on the plate-like structure to receive the heaters on the cooktop and to allow a user to place a cookware or utensil on the heaters. A fold facilitator is provided on the plate like structure to facilitate the folding of the device to fit into a dishwasher. A plurality of drip pans secured to the plate-like structure is provided for catching the food and liquid spillings or sputterings. The plurality of openings may be covered by heater covers to provide cooking zones on the plate-like structure to engage with the heaters and conduct heat from the heaters to cookware on the cooking zones. Methods for preventing the cooktop from being contaminated by food spillings or sputterings using a cooktop hygiene device are provided.

Growing community of inventors

Corvallis, OR, United States of America

Edward Zhihua Cai